Saturday, February 27, 2016

Commemoration of George Herbert, priest and poet, 1633

Reading: Luke 13:1-9

Luke 13:6 “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it and found none.”

            Here is one of those dilemmas in the life of faith. It is very clear: God has planted us as trees beside water, and God expects us to bear fruit. God has planted in us a seed of compassion, a seed of wisdom, a seed of justice, a seed of truth. God has planted in us the seed of God-ly-ness, and God does expect us to bear fruit: compassion, wisdom, justice, truth. Yes, we are redeemed. Yes, we are healed, Yes, we are loved. These are all God’s gift to us. We don’t pay for or earn these gifts. But God does still expect us to bear fruit. God-ly fruit.

O God, fountain of life, you have planted us as trees beside water, and you tend and love us. May our lives bear fruit for the coming of your reign. Amen

• Read George Herbert's poem, "Love (III)": http://www.bartleby.com/101/286.html .
• Learn to make Pysanky, Ukrainian eggs, with Cha and Kurt Posz, 9-12, East Commons, Mount Olive.